Today, 27 October 2016, the President of the Council (Praesidens Consilium) of the Masonic Agency issued the Decree 15/2016/6016 adopting the STRATEGY FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS. The proposal belongs to the Secretariat of Communications Technology and Information (SeCTI) and will underpin the involvement of the Masonic Agency in the cultural sector.

The strategy recommends a number of actions that the Masonic Agency must implement. Also, this strategy recommends a series of steps to be followed when the Agency will be involved in supporting or promoting a cultural event. One of the key recommendations is to create a cultural publication.

Taipei, Taiwan | On October 22, 2016 took place the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of China. The event took place at Sunworld Dynasty Hotel in Taipei in the presence of foreign delegations, among which the French National Grand Lodge, Grand Lodge of Russia, Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Grand Lodge of India etc.

This was the 63th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of China. On October 22, 2016 was held the conference of the Asia-Pacific Masonic Confederation, event organized by the Grand Lodge of China at its headquarters in Taipei.

Tbilisi, Georgia | On 22nd and 23rd October 2016 will take place the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, one of the youngest Grand Lodges in the world. According to the official communication received from the Deputy Grand Secretary, there will be elections for the office of Grand Master, it will be elected a new Grand Council and the will make amendments to the Constitution and the General Regulations. It will also be adopted a new Code of Conduct (Code of Ethics). After the reception given by the new Grand Master, foreign delegations will visit Kakheti region.

Montevideo, Uruguay | Last week passed away the first Grand Master of Feminine Freemasonry in Uruguay, Alicia Margarita TOYOS YANEZ. She was the one who founded, along with other members of the Craft the first Feminine Grand Lodge in history of this country, with the support of the Feminine Grand Lodge of Chile. Her death left the family in grief, as well the Masonic community in Uruguay and in Latin America.

In her memory, the Masonic Agency decreed on 14, 15 and 16 October 2016 days of mourning. Alicia TOYOS was the only woman who held the title of Honorary Member of the Masonic Agency and was an ally of the principles promoted by the Masonic Agency. At the beginning of the ordinary session of the Council today it was held a moment of silence, and the President stated: God also needs good people!

Nicosia, Cyprus | This year, on 29 October 2016 the Grand Lodge of Cyprus will celebrate a decade of existence. Cypriot ties with Freemasonry dates back more than two centuries. The first documents are found Larnaca, the main port on the island at the time. The first Masonic Lodge in Cyprus was founded in the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge of England. Cypriot Lodges are currently working in Greek, English, German and Italian. The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Cyprus is Most Worshipful Petros S. Machalepis. The Masonic Ceremony will take place at Famagusta Gate, built in 1567 by the Venetians. The event will be attended by guests from Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, England, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia and Slovenia.

Montevideo, Uruguay. From 12 to 14 October 2016 takes place the Annual Meeting of the 6th Zone of the IMC (Interamerican Masonic Confederation). The meeting will be presided by Edgar Sánchez Caballero (Grand Master of the Symbolic Grand Lodge of Paraguay) and takes place in Montevideo (organized by the Grand Lodge of Uruguay). IMC's 6th Zone consists of: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay.

Bucharest, Romania. From 4th to 6th November 2016 will take place the 5th edition of the International Salon of Masonic Arts and Culture, an annual event of the Romanian Grand Feminine Order (Women Freemasons) in Romania. The Grand Master of the Order, Graziela Barla, along with Romanian ladies Freemasons manage to bring together every year profanes and Masonic organizations from the country and abroad to provide a different perspective on Freemasonry in the 21st century.

This initiative of Romanian Grand Feminine Order (Women Freemasons) to promote art and culture is held annually in the capital of the country (Bucharest) and gives to the society the opportunity to meet closely certain activities of Freemasonry. The International Salon invites you to participate in public lectures, book launches, art exhibitions etc.The entrance is free.

London, United Kingdom. At the last Quarterly Communication the United Grand Lodge of England recognized the Grand Lodge of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), member of CMSB. The organization was founded in 1928. UGLE's Board proposed recognition of the Grand Lodge, and the decision was adopted. Paulo Roberto Flores Pithan is the Grand Master.

Santiago, Chile. The Grand Lodge of Chile organized a conference last month having as special guest the former President of the Republic, Sebastián Piñera. The event took place on September 5 at the Temple of the Grand Lodge. The conference was moderated by Cecelia Perez, former Minister General Secretary of Government. The event was attended by Grand Lodge members, former ministers, President of the Supreme Court, Grand Master Luis Riveros etc.

Sebastián Piñera began his speech by saying: Hello! I would like to salute my colleague Professor Mr. Luis Riveros. I was professor at the University of Chile before you! But you have been Vice-Chancellor. I still do not give up this aspiration, just as you still do not give up yours of being President of Chile.

The Grand Master intervened and emphasized the importance of the middle class and said that there should be a dialogue to build ideas. Former President Piñera said that the society must achieve three main principles: liberty, equality (equity) and progress.

Freedom... what is it? It means that each person to be as possible as he/she can their own Great Architect of his/her life. To feel that he/she is the ruler of his/her life and not just a Mason who puts a stone upon another; and no another one to be the architect who sketched his/her life project, stated Sebastián Piñera.

Lexington, United States. The election of David A. Glattly in the office of Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Jurisdiction will take place during the Annual Communication of Rochester in 2017. The announcement was made by the current Sovereign Grand Commander, John William McNaughton, who will retire in August 2017.

Glattly is a member of the Craft of over 40 years, he was raised a Master Mason in Clifton Lodge #203 in 1975 and was Worshipful Master in 1995. Also in 1998 he was Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

Glattly became an honorary member of the Supreme Council in 2000 in Pittsburgh and an active member in 2002 in Boston. He is a member of several Masonic organizations.

Rome, Italy. This year's meeting of the Confederation of European Supreme Councils should have taken place in Bucharest, but because of the crisis experienced by the Supreme Council of Romania and dismissal of Sovereign Grand Commander Constantin Iancu, the event took place in Italy.

Lisbon, Portugal. On September 24, 2016 the Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal celebrated its 25th anniversary. Friday night took place a special dinner and on Saturday was held the Anniversary Annual Communication and the Installation Ceremony for another mandate for Grand Master Julio Meirinhos. The historical event of Portuguese Freemasonry was attended by the Grand Lodges of France (represented by Grand Master Jean Pierre Servel), Brazil, Paraguay, New York (United States), Bulgaria (represented by Grand Master Ivan Sariev) etc, totaling a 35 foreign delegations.

The event took place in the Convento do Beato de Lisboa. A highlight of the ceremonies was the installation of 78 Worshipful Masters at the same time, something unusual in European Freemasonry. The ceremonies held Saturday were attended by about 1,000 guests.

New York, United States. The Grand Lodge of New York recognized this year the Symbolic Grand Lodge of Paraguay. Paul M. Rosen (Grand Secretary - New York) sent to his counterpart from Paraguay, Iván Lampert Soler (Grand Secretary) the mesage of Grand Master Jeffrey M. Williamson to the Grand Master of Paraguay (Edgar Sánchez Caballero).

The letter says that in the context of the 235th Annual Communication, the Grand Lodge of New York recognized the Symbolic Grand Lodge of Paraguay. This is the 31st recognition of Paraguayan Freemasonry obtained in the United States.

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NEWSLETTER

IN MEMORIAM Alicia TOYOS

EXCLUSIVE | Interview with the first (woman) Grand Master in the history of the Republic of Uruguay, Alicia TOYOS | This interview has an exclusive character, being part of the Exclusive Collection of Interviews of the Masonic Agency. The republication (total and/or partial publication) of this interview is strictly prohibited.